Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.7.12.2 (MEK)
18,161 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The ability to augment monocyte functions such as TNF-alpha-producing capacities confers a high immunostimulating potential to GM-CSF. In the present investigation, the mechanism of the GMCSF-mediated enhancement of monocyte cytokine production was analysed with regard to the involvement of intracellular signalling pathways. GM-CSF primes human monocytes dose- and time-dependently for enhanced LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha synthesis. Pre-incubation with 10 ng/ml GM-CSF for 6 h before LPS stimulation (10 ng/ml) caused a 3.4 +/- 1.9-fold increase in TNF-alpha release compared to unprimed controls. This was associated with increased phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha and elevated nuclear levels of the NF-kappaB components p50 and p65 and NF-kappaB binding to DNA. LPS-induced AP-1 binding to DNA was also enhanced in GM-CSF-pre-incubated cells. GMCSF treatment also caused a slight increase in TLR4 expression on monocytes while CD14 expression remained unchanged. GM-CSF-priming was unaffected by inhibitors of p38 MAPK (SB203580) and lipoxygenase (NDGA). In contrast, the broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein and the MEK-1 inhibitor (PD98059) abrogated GM-CSF priming of TNF-alpha release and activation of both NF-kappaB and AP-1. It is concluded that a tyrosine kinase of the GM-CSF-triggered ERK1/2 pathway augments the LPS-induced NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation.
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PMID:GM-CSF priming of human monocytes is dependent on ERK1/2 activation. 1642 Jul 40

The functional significance of protease-activated receptors (PARs) in endothelial cells is largely undefined, and the intracellular consequences of their activation are poorly understood. Here, we show that the serine protease thrombin, a PAR-1-selective peptide (TFLLRN), and SLIGKV (PAR-2-selective peptide) induce cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and mRNA expression in human endothelial cells without modifying COX-1 expression. COX-2 induction was accompanied by sustained production of 6-keto-PGF1alpha, the stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin, and this was inhibited by indomethacin and the COX-2-selective inhibitor NS398. PAR-1 and PAR-2 stimulation rapidly activated both ERK1/2 and p38MAPK, and pharmacological blockade of MEK with either PD98059 or U0126 or of p38MAPK by SB203580 or SB202190 strongly inhibited thrombin- and SLIGKV-induced COX-2 expression and 6-keto-PGF1alpha formation. Thrombin and peptide agonists of PAR-1 and PAR-2 increased luciferase activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells infected with an NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase reporter adenovirus, and this, as well as PAR-induced 6-keto-PGF1alpha synthesis, was inhibited by co-infection with adenovirus encoding wild-type or mutated (Y42F) IkappaBalpha. Thrombin- and SLIGKV-induced COX-2 expression and 6-keto-PGF1alpha generation were markedly attenuated by the NF-kappaB inhibitor PG490 and partially inhibited by the proteasome pathway inhibitor MG-132. Activation of PAR-1 or PAR-2 promoted nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of p65-NF-kappaB, and thrombin-induced but not PAR-2-induced p65-NF-kappaB phosphorylation was reduced by inhibition of MEK or p38MAPK. Activation of PAR-4 by AYPGKF increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38MAPK without modifying NF-kappaB activation or COX-2 induction. Our data show that PAR-1 and PAR-2, but not PAR-4, are coupled with COX-2 expression and sustained endothelial production of vasculoprotective prostacyclin by mechanisms that depend on ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and IkappaBalpha-dependent NF-kappaB activation.
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PMID:Cyclooxygenase-2 induction and prostacyclin release by protease-activated receptors in endothelial cells require cooperation between mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-kappaB pathways. 1646 9

The vasoactive hormone angiotensin II (Ang II) probably triggers inflammatory cardiovascular diseases by activating transcription factors such as NF-kappaB. We describe here a novel mode of NF-kappaB activation in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells exposed to Ang II. Ang II treatment resulted in an increase in the phosphotransferase activity of the IKK complex, which was mediated through the AT1 receptor subtype. The typical phosphorylation and proteasome-dependent degradation of the NF-kappaB inhibitor IkappaBalpha were not observed. Rather, Ang II treatment of vascular smooth muscle cells led to the phosphorylation of p65 on serine 536, a signal detected in both the cytoplasm and the nuclear compartments. The use of pharmacological inhibitors that inhibit the activation of MEK by Ang II revealed that phosphorylation of p65 on serine 536 did not require the MEK-ERK-RSK signaling pathway. On the other hand, specifically targeting the IKKbeta subunit of the IKK complex by overexpression of a dominant negative version of IKKbeta (IKKbeta K44A) or silencing RNA technology demonstrated that the IKKbeta subunit of the IKK complex was responsible for the detected phosphoserine 536 signal in Ang II-treated cells. Characterization of the signaling pathway leading to activation of the IKK complex by Ang II revealed that neither epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation nor the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT signaling cascade were involved. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the proinflammatory activity of Ang II is independent of the classical pathway leading to IkappaBalpha phosphorylation and degradation but clearly depends on the recruitment of an IKK complex signaling cascade leading to phosphorylation of p65 on serine 536.
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PMID:The proinflammatory actions of angiotensin II are dependent on p65 phosphorylation by the IkappaB kinase complex. 1651 50

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted, non-collagenous, sialic-acid rich, glycosylated adhesive phospho- protein. Several highly metastatic transformed cells synthesized a higher level of OPN compared with non-tumorigenic cells. We have recently reported that OPN induces nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-mediated promatrix metalloproteinase-2 activation through IkappaBalpha/IKK signaling pathways. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which OPN regulates pro-matrix metalloproteinase-9 (pro-MMP-9) activation and involvement of upstream kinases in regulation of these processes that ultimately control cell motility and tumor growth in murine melanoma cells are not well defined. Here we report that OPN induces alphavbeta3 integrin-mediated phosphorylation and activation of nuclear factor inducing kinase (NIK) and enhances the interaction between phosphorylated NIK and IkappaBalpha kinase alpha/beta (IKKalpha/beta) in B16F10 cells. Moreover, NIK is involved in OPN-induced phosphorylations of MEK-1 and ERK1/2 in these cells. OPN induces NIK-dependent NF-kappaB activation through ERK/IKKalpha/beta-mediated pathways. Furthermore, OPN enhances NIK-regulated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) secretion, uPA-dependent pro-MMP-9 activation, and cell motility. Pretreatment of cells with anti-MMP-2 antibody along with anti-MMP-9 antibody drastically inhibited the OPN-induced cell migration and chemoinvasion, whereas cells pretreated with anti-MMP-2 antibody had no effect on OPN-induced pro-MMP-9 activation suggesting that OPN induces pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-9 activations through two distinct pathways. Taken together, NIK acts as crucial regulator in OPN-induced MAPK/IKK-mediated NF-kappaB-dependent uPA secretion and MMP-9 activation thereby controlling melanoma cell motility and chemoinvasion.
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PMID:Nuclear factor inducing kinase: a key regulator in osteopontin- induced MAPK/IkappaB kinase dependent NF-kappaB-mediated promatrix metalloproteinase-9 activation. 1669 5

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) ligand 15d-PGJ2 induces cell death in renal proximal tubular cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) remains unidentified. The present study was undertaken to examine the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitogen-activated protein kinase, and NF-kappaB in opossum kidney (OK) cell death induced by 15d-PGJ2. Treatment of OK cells with 15d-PGJ2 resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent cell death, which was largely attributed to apoptosis. 15d-PGJ2 increased ROS production and the effect was inhibited by catalase and N-acetylcysteine. The 15d-PGJ2-induced cell death was also prevented by these antioxidants, suggesting that the cell death was associated with ROS generation. The PPARgamma antagonist GW9662 did not prevent the 15d-PGJ2-induced cell death. 15d-PGJ2 caused a transient activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). However, inhibitors (PD98059 and U0126) of MEK, an ERK upstream kinase, did not alter the 15d-PGJ2-induced cell death. Transfection with constitutively active MEK and dominant-negative MEK had no effect on the cell death. 15d-PGJ2 inhibited the NF-kappaB transcriptional activity, which was accompanied by an inhibition of nuclear translocation of the NF-kappaB subunit p65 and impairment in DNA binding. Inhibition of NF-kappaB with a NF-kappaB specific inhibitor pyrrolidinecarbodithioate and transfection with IkappaBalpha (S32A/36A) caused cell death. These results suggest that the 5d-PGJ2-induced OK cell death was associated with ROS production and NF-kappaB inhibition, but not with MAPK activation.
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PMID:15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 induces renal epithelial cell death through NF-kappaB-dependent and MAPK-independent mechanism. 1689 Sep 72

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is now considered an endogenous, gaseous mediator, which has been demonstrated to be involved in many inflammatory states. However, the mechanism of its proinflammatory function remains unknown. In the present study, we used IFN-gamma-primed human monocytic cell line U937 to investigate the effects of H2S in vitro on monocytes. We found that treatment with the H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide, led to significant increases in the mRNA expression and protein production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in U937 cells. H2S-triggered monocyte activation was confirmed further by the up-regulation of CD11b expression on the cell surface. We also observed that H2S could induce a rapid degradation of IkappaBalpha and subsequent activation of NF-kappaB p65, and this effect was attenuated by Bay 11-7082, a specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB. Furthermore, pretreatment of cells with Bay 11-7082 substantially inhibited the secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 induced by H2S. We also found that H2S stimulated the phosphorylation and activation of ERK1/2, but not of p38 MAPK and JNK, and pretreatment with PD98059, a selective MEK1 antagonist, could inhibit H2S-induced NF-kappaB activation markedly. Together, our findings suggest for the first time that H2S stimulates the activation of human monocytes with the generation of proinflammatory cytokines, and this response is, at least partially, through the ERK-NF-kappaB signaling pathway.
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PMID:Hydrogen sulfide induces the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines in human monocyte cell line U937 via the ERK-NF-kappaB pathway. 1728 97

Ginsenosides, the main component of Panax ginseng, have been known for the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of ginsenosides on activated astroglial cells. Among 13 different ginsenosides, intestinal bacterial metabolites Rh(2) and compound K (C-K) showed a significant inhibitory effect on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in human astroglial cells. Pretreatment with C-K or Rh(2) suppressed TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha kinase and the subsequent phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaBalpha. Additionally, the same treatment inhibited TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of MKK4 and the subsequent activation of the JNK-AP-1 pathway. The inhibitory effect of ginsenosides on TNF-alpha-induced activation of the NF-kappaB and JNK pathways was not observed in human monocytic U937 cells. These results collectively indicate that ginsenoside metabolites C-K and Rh(2) exert anti-inflammatory effects by the inhibition of both NF-kappaB and JNK pathways in a cell-specific manner.
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PMID:Ginsenosides compound K and Rh(2) inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced activation of the NF-kappaB and JNK pathways in human astroglial cells. 1754 55

IL-12, the critical factor for the generation of the Th1 type immune response, is produced by dendritic cells (DC) upon stimulation with LPS. Different signal pathways mediate LPS-induced expression of IL-12 and involve PI3K, MAPK and the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Here, we show that the kinase Raf is involved in the expression of IL-12 in human DC stimulated by LPS. We demonstrate that Raf regulates the expression of the IL-12 subunit p40 not via the kinase MEK, the major effector of Raf in growth factor-dependent signaling, but via the receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2) using specific inhibitors for MAPK pathways. RIP2 is a kinase participating in LPS/Toll-like receptor 4 signaling. Knockdown of RIP2 by siRNA inhibited LPS-dependent expression of IL-12 p40. In addition, knockdown of RIP2 reduced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, ERK and IkappaBalpha, which are known upstream regulators of IL-12 production. Thus, in human DC LPS stimulates a signal cascade that involves the Raf-dependent activation of RIP2 leading to expression of IL-12 p40.
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PMID:RIP2 mediates LPS-induced p38 and IkappaBalpha signaling including IL-12 p40 expression in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. 1757 44

BCR signaling in naive B cells depends on the function of signalosome mediators; however, prior engagement of CD40 or of IL-4R produces an alternate signaling pathway in which Bruton's tyrosine kinase, PI3K, phospholipase Cgamma2, and protein kinase Cbeta are no longer required for BCR-induced downstream events. To explore the range of mediators capable of producing such an alternate pathway for BCR signaling, we examined the TLR4 agonist, LPS. B cell treatment with LPS at relatively low doses altered subsequent BCR signaling such that ERK phosphorylation and NF-kappaB activation occurred in a PI3K-independent manner. This effect of LPS extended to MEK phosphorylation and IkappaBalpha degradation, and it developed slowly over a period of 16-24 h. The involvement of TLRs is suggested by similar effects observed with a structurally distinct TLR agonist, PAM3CSK4 and by the need for MyD88 for induction of alternate BCR signaling by LPS. Thus, LPS-mediated TLR engagement produces an alternate pathway for BCR-triggered signal propagation that differs from the classical, signalosome-dependent pathway.
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PMID:B cell receptor cross-talk: exposure to lipopolysaccharide induces an alternate pathway for B cell receptor-induced ERK phosphorylation and NF-kappa B activation. 1757 42

Impaired functioning of the proteasome pathway is one of the molecular mechanism underlying neurodegenerative changes in Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we report that dysfunction of the proteasome pathway in astroglial cells leads to decreased survival and dysregulation of chemokines by differential regulation of the nuclear factor kappa B and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways. We further demonstrated that proteasome inhibition augmented interleukin-1 beta- and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced activation of the IkappaBalpha kinase and MKK4/JNK/c-Jun pathway along with TAK1 activation. These results suggest that impaired function of the proteasome pathway may potentiate the immuno-pathologic role of secondarily activated astrocytes in the brain.
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PMID:Divergent effect of proteasome inhibition on interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha signaling in human astroglial cells. 1785


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